Research article summary (published 30 Aug 1991):

Conditioned immunosuppression of a murine delayed type hypersensitivity response: dissociation from corticosterone elevation.

Full Abstract

The mechanisms involved in behavioral modulation of immunity by Pavlovian conditioning have not been delineated, although an elevation in adrenocortical steroids has been invoked as an explanation. Therefore, we investigated whether or not a 4-day, murine delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response could be modified by a taste aversion conditioning paradigm. Mice were conditioned by the pairing of their saccharin (0.1%) drinking water (SAC) with a cyclophosphamide (CY) injection (50 mg/kg) on Day 0. Conditioned mice that were exposed on Day 3 to SAC + CY, SAC + normal saline, or water + CY exhibited significant suppression of DTH induced paw swelling when compared to nonconditioned controls. Conditioned immunosuppression was demonstrated, since the DTH response was suppressed by SAC without a concomitant reexposure to the immunosuppressant, CY. However, when dexamethasone (3 mg/kg) was used as the conditioning agent, the SAC + vehicle group showed no reduction in paw swelling. A serum corticosterone time course study was performed to examine possible involvement of glucocorticoids in conditioned immunosuppression. On Day 3, mice were sacrificed 30, 60, 90, 120 min and 24 h after reexposure to SAC or water. No significant differences in serum corticosterone levels were detected between nonconditioned controls and any conditioned group at any time point. These results demonstrate conditioned immunosuppression of a cell-mediated immune response that is not linked to a rise in glucocorticoid levels.

Author information

Author/s: Roudebush, R E (RE); Bryant, H U (HU);

Affiliation: Department of Rheumatology Research, Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, Indiana 46285.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Brain, behavior, and immunity (Brain Behav Immun), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1991-Sep; vol 5 (issue 3) : pp 308-17

Dates: Created 1991/12/27; Completed 1991/12/27; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 1954405, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Avoidance Learning - physiology Conditioning, Classical Corticosterone - blood Cyclophosphamide - toxicity Dexamethasone - pharmacology Drinking Behavior Drug Hypersensitivity - complications; immunology; physiopathology Edema - etiology; immunology Foot Hypersensitivity, Delayed - immunology; physiopathology

Immune Tolerance - physiology Immunity, Cellular Male Mice Mice, Inbred BALB C - immunology Nausea - chemically induced; complications Picryl Chloride - immunology; toxicity Saccharin - pharmacology Stress, Physiological - blood; etiology; immunology; physiopathology T-Lymphocytes - immunology Taste

Associated Chemicals: Dexamethasone (50-02-2) ; Cyclophosphamide (50-18-0) ; Corticosterone (50-22-6) ; Saccharin (81-07-2) ; Picryl Chloride (88-88-0)

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